Archive for October, 2008
Happy Halloween to Everyone in Gaithersburg
October 30th, 2008 categories: Movin Entertainment, Movin Lifestyle
Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween. The local weather in Gaithersburg is supposed to be good for trick or treaters.
I hope to see all the kids, big and small out celebrating. I will be taking pictures at my home in Darnestown. Most of the kids head up to the Kentlands to trick or treat.
I think some kids think it is too much work to come to Darnestown where all the houses are on 2 acre lots or more. The Kentlands have smaller lots and they get a bigger bang for the buck.
If you have photos that you would like to share, please email them to me and I will post them on my blog to share with everyone.
Stay safe, have fun, see you tomorrow. I will have my cameral waiting for you!!
You can email your photos to AudreyForshey@gmail.com
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RE/MAX Realty Group Thanksgiving Food Drive For Maryland Food Bank
October 30th, 2008 categories: Movin Community Help, Movin Information, Movin Montgomery County Maryland
This is the season for family and friends. Please don’t forget about the folks who are less fortunate in our community. This has been a difficult time for many. We need to pull together as a community to make sure no one is forgotten.
In an effort to help, RE/MAX Realty Group in Gaithersburg, Maryland has started a food drive to support the Maryland Food bank.
During the month of November you can drop your nonperishable food items off to the RE/MAX Realty Group office or at the designated Open Houses held by RE/MAX Realty Group Agents.
If you have any questions please contact Me, Audrey June-Forshey or the RE/MAX Realty Group Office if you would like to drop off or have donations picked up.
Details are as follows;
RE/MAX Realty Group
6 Montgomery Village Ave
Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301-258-7757
or
Audrey June Forshey
301-938-8028
Please contact our office if you have questions. Every donation is important, no matter how big or small.
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Glen Echo Park Partnership – Holiday Art Show and Sale
October 26th, 2008 categories: Movin Consumers, Movin Entertainment, Movin Montgomery County Maryland
Glen Echo Bethesda Maryland
I often have people ask me if I ever rode the Carousel at Glen Echo Park as a kid? Unfortunately I did not grow up here and never had the privilidge of riding the carousel. The carousel is the Dentzel Carousel built in 1921. The Park was formed back in 1891 and was used for Arts, science and literature mostly. In the early part of the 1900’s it became an amusement park that most local Washingtonians grew up with until 1968.
The Federal Government took the land over as part of the park service, but in 2002 Montgomery County Maryland took the park back. It has been set up as a non profit organization and still today it remains true to the Arts, science and literature as started in 1891. The park sits perched above the Potomac River.
You can still ride the Dentzel Carousel. It opens in the Spring and runs through the fall. It is scheduled to open May 2, 2009.
Apart from the amusement park Glen Echo Park has so much to offer. From Mid November through January 2009 the Annual Holiday Art Show and Sale will be held in the Popcorn Gallery. The works featured will be from the artists in residence at Glen Echo Park. Admission is free.
Pop Corn Gallery Glen Echo Park Bethesda
In addition to the amusment park and the art gallery, there is a children’s museum and gallery, the Spanish Dance Hall which had a complete renovation. You can reserve the dance hall for special occasions. There are classes you can sign up for in pottery, glass making, you name it you can fill your art indulgence to your hearts content. Glen Echo Calendar of Events.
Many Washingtonians have kept Glen Echo Park memories in their hearts from their childhood years and now they can continue the tradition with their families through their adult years.
You may also contact the Partnership to take many classes, or if you are interested in teaching at the park you may contact them on the website for that information as well. We are lucky to have such a wonderful facility available to us here in Montgomery County and the DC area.
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I Got Called intoMy Principal Real Estate Broker’s Office. . . .
October 9th, 2008 categories: Movin Consumers, Movin Real Estate News
I got called into the Principal Broker’s office. Not that Principal, my Principal Broker’s office. I got a phone call from Michelle, one of our staff members. It was so official. Audrey, can you meet with Ken, our broker, on Wednesday around 2:00? Um, yeah, sure, what is it for?
So I wondered for a couple of days what it could possibly be? I didn’t have any drama going on in my business? I never do. I didn’t have any drama going on in the office? I don’t pay enough attention to the “goings on” in the office to care.
I went to my appointment on Wednesday and the first words out of my mouth were “Okay, what did I do wrong now?” My Broker, Ken, laughed and said nothing. He said that he was calling all of his agents to touch base with them to see how they were doing, let them know he was there for support. He said I know you are doing fine with your production, as a matter of fact I am the number two individual agent out of 120! Wow, I was surprised. Number one better watch out because I am gunning for them.
Ken just said that Brokers and managers spend so much time trying to train and inspire agents that are struggling that agents that seem to be doing okay, kind of get get ignored. We don’t get ignored on purpose, you just go to work, do your business, keep your nose clean and everyone thinks you are doing fine and the producers don’t really need the one on ones.
Even though I am doing fine, it was nice to have some face to face time. I must admit it was a pick me up and made me feel great. We talked about the market, production, marketing and blogging. He is very familiar with blogging and reads mine, to my surprise. We talked about things in general. Several of the agents in the office are taking the Brian Buffini’s Ultimate Agent program. I am really excited about it and Ken is really happy that I am doing the program.
I will say to you Broker/managers to not forget the top producers in your office. I know you are working hard to help the agents that are struggling, and you should. However, I believe if you give some one on one time to your top producers you will put a pep in their step and you may be surprised that you may get more production out of them as well.
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Hello Mutta, Hello Fatta We Help Your Dautta, Purchase Her Home
October 1st, 2008 categories: Movin Home Search, Movin Real Estate News
Hello Mutta, Hello Fatta I know 
I am working with ya dautta,
Dont be scared or nervous,
I am here to be at your service.
One of my friends says that God makes babies so wonderful and cute that you love them through their teenage years. God also makes them teenagers so you are able to let them move on and move out when they are in their late teens. I always thought that was a pretty good analogy.
I know you nurtured and sheltered your child to the nth degree of your love and ability. Now they have gone off and grown up. I know, the nerve of them. They have been out in the working world for awhile and may actually have saved up some of their own money to consider starting to look for their very own home.
This will be a new milestone for them. I know you will want to be there and support them through this transaction. I am going to tell you, as a first time buyer specialist, you – Mom and Dad- need to be there for them, but you MUST let them navigate this transaction on their own with their REALTOR®. They will call you to discuss the transaction and ask for your advice. They will resent you if you try to “do” the transaction for them. I have seen this happen more times than not, but far be it for me to get in the middle of a family squabble.
The questions you, Mom and Dad, will want to ask your kids as they purchase their first home are;
- Who are you working with as your agent?
- How much experience does your agent have?
- Does the agent specialize in the area you are interested in?
- Does the agent have a good balance of Buyer Transactions vs Seller transactions.
- Of the Buyer Transactions – are first time home buyers one of the agent’s specialties.
- Did the agent refer 2 or 3 lenders so rates and services can be compared.
- Does the agent represent the buyer or the seller.
- Will the agent have a Buyer Broker Agreement where the agent has a Fiduciary relationship with the buyer?
- Does the agent have a “Buyer Pre-qualification Appointment” to lay a good foundation for a smooth transaction?
- Does the agent have a grasp on basic financing information.
If you wonder about the agent, you can do a search based on the agent’s license number with the state commission. In Maryland, we work under a Fiduciary relationship. That means that the agent has to, by law, put the interest of their client above all others – even the agent’s own interests. Fiduciary is the highest form of loyalty in any relationship. As a matter of fact, we agents probably have a higher loyalty to your kids than you do now that they are adults. So know they are in good hands.
Mom and Dad, don’t worry. You did a great job raising your children. They know right from wrong. When I work with First time home buyers, they will typically come and see me for the initial buyer prequalification appointment. Once that has been done and we have the ground work set, they will go out with me and look at different homes and pick the ones they like the most. That will be when they call you into the transaction. They will want to show you the work and research they have done. They will also want your opinion about the homes they have narrowed down in their search.
Once you get there to see the house(s) they have picked, look for the major items of concern, but please don’t beat the house up. I have had parents be so hard on the house their kids choose, I have had some cry at the house because they think you hate their house. Just help them, don’t criticize them. Remember, it is THEIR home, not yours.
I find that the parents that come with the kids to every appointment from start to finish and make all of the decisions during the transactions end up with more friction between family members than friction with the agents. Remember, your kids are no dummies and they have probably done more homework and research on the internet than you did when you bought your first home.
Just relax, be there for them, let them ask you – because they will want your advice- and it should be a smooth transaction for all.
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